N00528:93
Winter-meditations directions how to employ the leisure [sic] of the winter for the glory…Winter-meditations directions how to employ the liesure [sic] of the winter for the glory…
Winter-meditations directions how to employ the leisure [sic] of the winter for the glory of God. : Accompanied with reflections, as well historical, as theological, not only upon the circumstances of the winter, but also, upon the notable works of God, both in, creation, and providence: especially those, which more immediately concern every particular man, in the whole course of his life: and upon the religious works, wherewith every man should acknowledge God, in and from the accidents of the winter. / By Cotton Mather. ; With a preface of the Reverend, Mr. John Higginson.Winter-meditations directions how to employ the liesure [sic] of the winter for the glory of God. : Accompanied with reflections, as well historical, as theological, not only upon the circumstances of the winter, but also, upon the notable works of God, both in, creation, and providence: especially those, which more immediately concern every particular man, in the whole course of his life: and upon the religious works, wherewith every man should acknowledge God, in and from the accidents of the winter. / By Cotton Mather. ; With a preface of the Reverend, Mr. John Higginson.
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris over-against the Old-Meeting-House, 1693
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Once more, Knew, That God is the RULER of the Winter. This is intimated in Psal. 74.17. Thou hast set all the Borders of the Earth, thou hast made Summer and Winter. So, It is God, Who sets ⟨p. 28⟩Borders to the Winter upon the Earth. It is God who says to the Winter, Keep off till such a Month. It is God, who says to the Winter, Go off at such a Month. The Unlimitable Holy One of Israel, is He that Limits our Winter for us. The winds that Rise in the winter are in His […], and as to the waves that are so often Crusted in the winter, so to the winter it self, He faith, Hitherto shalt then go, and no further.
Once more, Knew, That God is the RULER of the Winter. This is intimated in Psal. 74.17. Thou hast set all the Borders of the Earth, thou hast made Summer and Winter. So, It is God, Who sets ⟨p. 28⟩Borders to the Winter upon the Earth. It is God who says to the Winter, Keep off till such a Month. It is God, who says to the Winter, Go off at such a Month. The Unlimitable Holy One of Israel, is He that Limits our Winter for us. The winds that Rise in the winter are in His 〈…〉, and as to the waves that are so often Crusted in the winter, so to the winter it self, He faith, Hitherto shalt then go, and no further.
Let me add, The Obedience of the winter unto our God, should be considered by us, to shame our Disobedience. If God say to the Snow, and the Rain, and the Like, Be thou upon the Earth, straightway they are so. What Wretches then are we, that when this God shall say to us, Be thou upon thy Knees, or, Let thy Heart be in Heaven, we slight what He faith! We read in Psal. 147.15. He sendeth forth his Commandment upon Earth, His Word Runneth very swiftly: and then comes, the Snow, the Frost, the Ice, and the Cold. Well, but it follows, He showed His Word unto Jacob. And now, does Jacob yield as much Obedience unto the Word of God, as the winter does? Alas, How Disobedient are we! In the winter, the Work of God is done by the winter it self; but the Word of God then prescribes a further work unto us; and can it be said, We run very swiftly about that work? No truly; our will to our work, seems Congealed as it were by an Eternal winter. Said the Psalmist, in